Open letter to CEO, PSO
That as per credible information(s) received through several newspapers i.e. Dawn News 29 October 2018 and 13 October 2018, The News dated 13 October 2018 and through Social Media, etc. The 280 and 340 Horsepower Trucks (presently in PSO Fleets) are being deceptively marketed as 360 Horsepower (OGRA Compliant) Trucks.
2. After the Bahawalpur oil truck explosion, that happened in 2017, in which nearly two hundred and fifty people died, the Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (OGRA) introduced and enforced new safety and technical standards for the trucks carrying more than 5000/- litres of petroleum products. The relevant performance requirements set by the OGRA are reproduced for perusal and convenience of the readers.
“The vehicle shall have a power to weight ratio of at least 6 HP/Tonne (4.48kw/tonne). Power shall be DIN 70 020 Net, and weight shall be the total vehicle weight as per Regulation 8(5)”. As per the rules and statutory notification by the OGRA, the vehicle carrying petroleum products for more than 5000 litres/- must comply with the performance standards set by the OGRA ie “the Truck must have 360 Horsepower Engine”.
3. It is pertinent to mention that as per the OGRA’s Report on the “oil truck accident at Bahawalpur” (available on OGRA’s website) one of the main reasons for the Bahawalpur Oil Tanker Explosion was that the truck, which was carrying petroleum product, did not meet the set requirements of OGRA.
It was further stated in the said report that such accidents could have been avoided if the truck was complied with the applicable safety laws and rules. It is a matter of record that almost every “Truck selling and assembling companies” in Pakistan were initially selling their trucks as 340 Horsepower trucks.
Consequently, after the introduction and enforcement of new rules by the OGRA, these companies deceptively transformed their 340 Horsepower trucks into 360 Horsepower, by simply changing “stickers” on their products (trucks). Please note that not a single document ie “Engine Performance Curves” “Engine Bench Test” or “Engine Report” were provided by the trucks selling and assembling companies.
4. Please note that Exhaust Gas Recirculation, Air tanks, ABS breaks, fuel Pressure, Air intake manifold are not at all related to the Engine’s Horsepower, they are only related to exhaust Gas quality and brakes. The 280, 340 and 360 Horsepower trucks deceptively marketed have same clutch size ie 15 inches, whereas in all the other 360 Horsepower trucks, the clutch size is 17 inches.
It is important to note that for any common rail engine the Horsepower of engine is varied by changing ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and Turbo Charger, that too can be done within limits only, same ECU and Turbo are in 280HP and 360HP trucks, which evidently proves that there is no power difference in actual.
5. It is a duty of a truck selling, manufacturing and assembling companies to provide all the relevant documents including “Performance Curves” and “Engine Bench Test” to satisfy the public at large, OMCs and Government Departments as to the authentic Horsepower of their products. It is pertinent to mention that all of the truck selling, manufacturing and assembling companies in the world provide “Engine Reports” “Engine Tests” and “Performance curves” to confirm the actual Horsepower of their products (trucks).
6. Please note, that as per OGRA rules it is your duty, being an Oil Marketing Company (OMC) to compel “Fleetowners/contactors” to submit authentic “Engine Bench Test” and “Engine Tests Reports”(duly signed and stamped by original OEM)before allowing the trucks to carry PSO’s petroleum products.
—The writer is Advocate of the High Courts, based in Karachi.
